Debity Delivers

Junior tosses first complete game, a shutout, as Scots blank Emory

Maryville College junior Seth Debity fires to the plate in Saturday’s win over the Eagles. Photos by Brandon Shinn

By Stefan Cooper
Editor
Blount Press Row

Seth Debity gave the seniors some sendoff is his last home start this season.

The Maryville College junior tossed the first complete game of his career, a four-hit, shutout gem, and the Scots blanked Emory University, 8-0, on Saturday at Scotland Yard.

“It’s the first complete game of my college career,” he said. “I’m really proud of that.”

Debity, a junior, struck out three and allowed only a pair base runners to reach third as the Scots (23-11) played flawless defense behind the Sequoyah High School product.

Third baseman Jesse Crisp guns a throw to first.

Former William Blount Governor Jesse Crisp delivered the defensive play in the game in the Emory fifth when the Maryville third baseman dove to his left to knock down a drive off the bat of the Eagles’ Jordan Selbach. Rising and throwing, Crisp’s 5-3 putout was a big part of why Emory was never able to get any traction against Debity.

Offensively, Maryville senior and professional baseball prospect Nick Dean gave a representative of the Pittsburgh Pirates in attendance a good show, going 3-for-4 with a run batted in.

Maryville and Emory (21-11) conclude the series this afternoon at 2. The game is the 2015 home finale for the Scots.

A John McDermott two-out single in the Maryville third, scoring Dean who’d reached on a fielder’s choice, provided Debity with all the run support he needed. The Scots blew the game open an inning later with a six-run fourth.

From there, the only drama Debity confronted was Emory’s Wes Peacock doubling to lead off the Eagle ninth, reaching third with two out with a chance to break up the shutout.

Debity induced the Eagles’ Ben Vizvary to ground back to the mound a batter later, the Maryville hurler trotting the ball to first base himself for the final out.

There was no thought of lifting Debity at that point, Maryville coach Cody Church said.

“I think Seth is that type of pitcher,” he said. “When he’s good, he’s as good as anybody in our league. When he gave up the double, I said, ‘If that runs going to score, he’s going to be the one on the mound.”

Maryville senior Nick Dean gets set for the pitch.

Offensively, the aforementioned Dean was a show.

If you haven’t seen him, the weather’s supposed to be awesome this afternoon.

Dean doubled to left with one out in the Maryville first. The Eagles got out of the inning without any damage, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long.

After plating the winning run in the Scots’ third, Dean singled, scored and drove home a run in the fourth as Maryville batted around.

Evan Ezell doubled to center to open Scots’ fourth-inning barrage. Crisp followed and revved Maryville’s engines with a single to put two aboard. McDermott, 2-for-5 with three RBI on the day, sprung the floodgates wide with a two-RBI double straightaway.

Dean closed the scoring when he doubled with one gone in the Maryville eighth. Sophomore Greg Vourloumis singled him home two batters later for the final tally.

Dean, the reigning USA South Athletic Conference Player of the Year, is going out in a grand flourish at Maryville. The strong-armed shortstop, already the Scots’ career hits leader, entered this weekend’s last homestand leading the nation in hits. He’ll finish his career on the hill hitting better than .380.

He’s hitting a robust .455 in this his final Maryville campaign, slugging .690 with 45 runs batted in and a .518 on-base percentage.

Representatives from the Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins and Pirates have all been to see the Maryville standout play this season.

It’s a lot to take in.

He keeps it all in check by making sure it stays between the lines, said Dean, who graduated from Maryville in May and is playing his final season with the Scots while pursuing his teacher licensure.

“It’s a game you’ve been playing since you were 5 years old,” he said. “That doesn’t change because scouts are here.

“Once the season’s over, I’ll start training for the (June Major League) draft. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”